Wynne firm on committee for North – by Sebastien Perth (Sudbury Star – February 6, 2013)

Ontario premier-designate Kathleen Wynne says she is committed to giving Northern Ontario a strong voice in the decision-making taking place in Queen’s Park. Wynne took questions from northern reporters during a conference call on Tuesday afternoon.

She said her transition team is already working on getting things running when her cabinet is sworn in Monday. The legislature will be back more than a week later, on Feb. 19. During her leadership campaign, Wynne pledged to have a cabinet committee that would focus on Northern Ontario issues and she stuck by that pledge Tuesday.

“I’ll create a cabinet committee from the North. That is important to me because if I have ministers who are aware of the politics and impacts on the North, that is important because we have to realize decisions made here at Queen’s Park have to be correct for the North. “For me, this cabinet committee is a mechanism to reach that goal.”

Wynne also promised during her leadership bid that she would hold a cabinet meeting within a month of swearing in her cabinet. She stuck to that time frame Tuesday.

“I said we would hold it within 30 days of swearing in the cabinet, with the cabinet being sworn in Feb. 11, so before March 11.” Where would it be? she was asked.

“I don’t have an answer for that. That hasn’t be determined. It wouldn’t be the only time we did it, but we want to get to the North for a cabinet meeting very quickly.”

On the subject of casinos, Wynne said that municipalities should have a greater role to play in the face of the Ontario Lottery Gaming’s modernization plans.